Foldable stereoscopic device



Nov. 4, 1952 T. B. TINKER 2,616,333

FOLDABLB- STEREOSCOPIC DEVICE Filed Feb. 11, 1950 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 J Nov.4, 1952 T. B. TlNKER 2,616,333

FOLDABLE' STEREOSCOPIC DEVICE Filed Feb. 11, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 INVENTOR. 76 500085 5. 77/1 4147? Patented Nov. 4, 1 952 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE FOLDABLE STEREOSCOPIC DEVICE Theodore B. Tinker, New York, N. Y.

Application February 11, 1950, Serial No. 143,744

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a foldable r collapsible device for use inviewing photographs, portraits, pictures and the like.

It is an object of the present invention to provide means enablingdetachable connection of one or more picture cards, preferably bound inbook or album form, to a stereoscopic device, the latter includingfoldable parts adapted to be set up for operation of the device.

It is another object of the present invention to provide means affordingsupport and bracing of the walls of a stereoscopic device in openposition, the device being adapted to contain the picture album.

It is another object of the present invention to provide in a foldablestereoscopic device, means facilitating proper centering of the deviceover the nose of the operator who views the pictures.

It is another object of the present invention to provide in a foldablestereoscopic device an arrangement in the form of a box or containerwherein one wall of the same is adapted to receive and support a card orpicture album and wherein the cover of the box is adapted to serve as areflector to illuminate the pictures being viewed.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a stereoscopicdevice which is of simple construction, inexpensive to manufacture,quick and easy to assemble, self-contained, compact, has a minimumnumber of parts, is adapted to releasably support picture albums,affords easy access to the picture albums to pivot and to position thesame in front of the lenses of the device, is of pleasing appearance,and eflicient in operation.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention,reference may be had to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a stereoscopic device with theportionsthereof extended to view the pictures.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the device as viewed on line2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of the device with the parts thereoffolded together to provide a package and in their collapsed positions.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of the device of Fig. 1with the parts thereof extended and of a type adapted to be rested upona horizontal supporting surface as the pictures are viewed.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of still another form of the deviceutilizing a box or container with one wall of the same serving toreceive the album and the cover serving as a reflector.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the form of the invention shown in Fig.5 on a reduced scale and with several albums stored in the box.

Fig. '7 is a plan view of a still further form of the invention with theparts in their flattened position.

Fig. 8 is a perspective View of the form of the invention shown in Fig.7 with the parts joined together for viewing operation.

Fig. 9 is a side elevational View of the form of the invention shown inFigs. 7 and 8 with the parts folded upon one another so that the devicecan be carried.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, I l represents a lensportion having lenses l2 and I3 therein spaced properly to receive theeyes when the nose is extended into a cut away space M lying at thefolded bottom edge of the lens portion H. The lens portion H is foldablyconnected to a jacket or sleeve portion I5 adapted to have a slide fitwith a foldable holder it formed of two parts hinged together, asindicated at H, and providing one part I8 slidable into the sleeveportion l5 and the other part serving as .a backing support portion IQfor supporting album 2|.

Gussets 22 are provided between the lens portions H and sleeve portionl5. These gussets are foldable along a line 23 and are purposelioutwardly flared to hold the lens portion upright when the device is tobe put into use.

Similar gussets 24 are provided between the parts l8 and [9 of theholder "5 whereby to hold the backing part I9 in its vertical position.

The album 2| consists of a series of picture pages or cards 25 hingedtogether by a, spiral wire 26. Each of said cards 25 has twostereoscopic picture areas 21 and 28 thereon which are respectivelyobserved by placing the device to the eyes of the user and so that theuser may look through the'lenses I2 and IS. The nose space l4 willproperly locate the device and While holding the device with one hand,the other hand can be used to flip over the different picture cards 25and to adjust the focus by moving or sliding part l8 relatively tosleeve l (see arrow A). The lens portions and the backing portion 19 areselfsupporting and the user does not need to be cOncerned aboutaccidental collapse of the device. The gussets 22 and 24 are flaredoutwardly so that the portions cannot fold down, unless said gussets arepushed inwardly by hand about folds 23. Fig. 3 shows the device incollapsed position.

The lens portion II is provided with a covering 29 which is extendedonto the sleeve portion l5, as shown in Fig. 2, to provide a hinge 3Drlzcsannectingtheportion II with the sleeve portion In Fig. 4, there isshown another form of the invention wherein the holder for the picturealbum includes the cover page of the album which, as indicated at 3|, isextended directly into sleeve portion I5. A special holder 32 having agusset connection 33 with a portion 34 that slides onto another cover35- franalbuIn-SB. The,

holder 32 will support the cover 35 of the album 36 and pages 31 thereofcan be lowered to show' the picture areas 38 and 39. The album 36 can beeasily removed. fromthe sleeve portion l5 and from the support 32, andreplaced by another album. This stereoscopic device is particularlyadapted for use on horizontal: surfaces as it. is by means of the,holder 32., engaging with such surface that the album isheld'in an,upright position.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 5 and 6, there is showna form of theinvention wherein the walls of a box are utilized for the supporting ofthe lenses and of the album. :In this form of the invention, a boxstructure 4| is provided. This structure has a wall portion 42for'supporting lenses 43 and 44 and into this wall portion there is. cut.a nose space 45. This space extends into the bottom or base wallportion of the box structure 4|. The wall portion of the box positionedopposite to the lens portion '42 is provided with a pocket 46 into whichcan be slid a cover sheet 4! of an album 48 whereby said cover sheet mayextend beyond the upper edge defining pocket 46 as seen in Fig. 5andretained in the pocket. Pages 49 having pictures are flipped over thetop of the pocket 46 and cover sheet and into the interior of thecontainer or box to present the pictures in abutting relation to saidopposite wall portion. These pictures will be observed while the box isheld to the eyes and supported upon the nose of the viewer. A containeror top cover 5| will, through its white inner surface, cause light to bereflected onto the uppermost picture within the box 4|. This cover has aflap 52 which extends into the pocket 46 for closing purposes when thealbums are stored in the box, in the manner as shown in Fig. 6. Severalof these albums can be stored in the box when the device is'not beingused.

Referring now particularly'to Figs. 7, '8 and 9, there is shown a stillfurther form of the invention wherein the album is a permanent part ofthe device. A lens portion 55 is hinged by a tape56 to a baseportion'51. This lens portion 55 has the usual lenses 58 and 59. Cut into:thelens portion and into the base portion is a nose space Bl.

Foldable upon the base portion at the rear thereof is a back support orwall-portion 62 for a book 63 which is connected by suitable retainingmeans, such asa wire coil 64'to the side edge of the wall portion'62.This albumor'book 4 63 with picture pages 65 has a cover sheet 65 with atab 6! thereon adapted to engage with a slot or recess 68 in the sideedge of the lens portion 55 whereby to hold the lens portion 55 in anupright manner relative to the base portion 57. Also, the backsupporting portion 62 will be held upright. Thereafter, with the devicebrought to the eyes of the viewer, pages 65 of the album can be turnedabout the vertical hinge wire coil 64 so that the difierent pages andthe pictures thereon can be viewed in succession.

With the tab 61 detached from the slot 58, the album 63 can be closedand the portions folded upon one another, as shown in Fig. 9.

' It shouldbe apparent that there has. been provided a simplestereoscopicdevice formed of inexpensive materials and wherein thedifferent albums are attachable to the supporting portions of the.device inJsuch a manner that they can be turned to present diiTerentpicture areas, and

'whereinthe'device can be folded when not in use to, consumelittlespace.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shallbe understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope ofthe presentzinvention. as defined by the appended claims. 7

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent, is:

11...,A stereoscopic device comprising a box-like structure havingopposite Walls and a portion formed in one Wall thereof for receivinglens means, another wall having a pocket opening thereinforthe-insertion of a picture album thereinhaving picture'and cover sheets,said cover sheet being; extendable into the pocket of the other wall forxmaintaining in position against said other wall so that the picturesheets thereof. can be turned into the box structure for viewing fromsaid lens means, said box-like structure having a cover with an innersurface serving when elevated to reflect light toward the, picturesheets of the album being viewed, and a flap :on-said cover forinsertion into said pocket to close said box-like structure upon priorremovalof said picture album from said pocket.

2. A stereoscopic device comprising a box-like structure having spacedwalls and a base portion between said .walls, lenses provided in one ofthe walls, the other wall having a pocket therein, an

album having a coversheet and picture pages,

said cover sheet of the album extending into the pocket whereby thepicture pages can be turned inwardly into the box for viewing from thelenses,

a cover on saidboX-like structure having a flap 'thereon,said albumbeing, removable from said pocketand adaptedfor storage within the box-.like'structure, said cover being adapted to be folded downover thestored album and with said flap for engagement with the pocket in theother wall ofthebox-like structure.

having a'pocket therein: terminating in an edge,

an albumhavinga'. cover sheet and picture pages, said cover sheet of thealbum extending into the pocket whereby the: picture pages can be turnedabout said edge of said pocket into the container for viewing saidpicture pages. from the lenses, a

container cover having aflap thereon, said album being removable fromsaid pocket and adapted for storage within the container, the flapofsaid vcontamercoverbeing adapted to enter the pocket 5 in the otherWall for closing said container, and a nose opening cut in the lens walland the base portion to receive the nose of the viewer holding saidcontainer.

THEODORE B. TINKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 61,359 Rawson Jan. 22, 1867174,893 Bierstadt Mar. 21, 1876 Number Number

